Could my boyfriend live and work in Canada?

[Jazzy92]

Hi and thanks for reading this. I'm a twenty year old Canadian citizen and I have met the man of my dreams online. Unfortunately, he lives in the USA. We only get to visit each other for a few days once each season, and it seems we want nothing more than to be able to live together and see each other every day. I think he would like to move in with me eventually (I live in Toronto).

Currently, we both have jobs that pay just a bit more than minimum wage or so, although mine is part-time because I am a full-time university student. He has completed a two-year community college arts degree, which I am told does not help a person get any jobs. He can't afford four-year college as it is much more expensive there.

I am currently still dependent on my parents as I don't work full-time, but I'm sure I could support myself if I worked 7 hours a day and had a roommate to split rent with. Specifically, if my boyfriend were able to work and live here and be my roommate. I would finish my university degree eventually, but as a part-time/night student.

We would get married in order for me to be allowed to become his sponsor (does anyone have any advice on where/how to get married?). However, I think I would just barely make enough on my own to support both myself and him, if that. Do I have to make a certain income in order to be able to sponsor him? He has thousands of dollars saved up. If he could get a job within the first few months then he would barely need my financial support, and from there we could split cost of living. But I assume he would also need a work permit to do so, and I worry they wouldn't allow him one or that you may need to be a "skilled professional" or something.

Please help me figure out what to do. What all would my sweetheart need in order to be allowed to live and work here, and how do we go about obtaining those things? I know we are both very young and poor, but I also know that if he is allowed to live and work in Canada, we will slowly build a better life for ourselves.

 

[Sweden]

Hey Jazzy92,

welcome to the forum!

You can sponsor him. If you haven't been living together for 12 months continuous, (which is not the case from your post), then you need to get married first, then file for his Permanent Residence (PR) - which will give him the right to live in Canada (and work etc ).

There is no minimum income required. The only thing you need to prove as a sponsor is that you are not currently on welfare, and you will not go on welfare. Also no criminal background etc.

You need to prepare for it, but it's feasible! read the first post ( by Leon) that will give you an idea. Download the forms from the CIC website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp, print them out, get familiar with it, and start gathering proofs of your relationship - trips to see each other, emails, etc.

File outland - even if your boyfriend decides to move to Canada to be with you, he can only come as a tourist and not work.

For the first part (sponsorship approval) you will need to prove that you have a plan when he comes : where you will live (it can be at your parents, just get them to write a letter saying that they support your plan and your relationship and they can help you settle until you can care for yourself), how you plan to support yourself and him, if he has any skills and could get a job in Canada, include it, etc.

the second part is to try and prove that your relationship is genuine - proofs of your relation, letters from family and friends that they know about you, pictures from the wedding etc - read the guidelines, and follow the check list.

The application itself takes time, and can be a bit overwhelming... so clear a space somewhere, print out the forms, gather the proofs, and it will eventually come together - and come back to the forum to get support, answer questions etc!

There are plenty of US/Can couples in the forum, so for any specific questions, you'll find answers here!

Timewise> it's currently 3 months for the first part, and somewhere around 8 to 11 months for the second part (but it can sometimes be done faster) - it's worth to spend time to put it together well, it saves time...

Good luck!
Sweden

 

[Jazzy92]

Thanks so much for your reply, Sweden, that really gives me hope! ;D

However, I didn't understand what you meant by "file outland" - and he can only come as a tourist?!

Does my boyfriend have any hope of getting a job here after moving here through me? His current job is as a data entry person. Think he'd still be able to get a work permit, without any super outstanding credentials? Are they very strict about who they let work here? (is this the right section to ask about that?)

 

[Sunshine87]

I was in a very similar situation as you. I met my American husband online, and for 2 years we went back and forth visiting each other, but as our relationship progressed, we searched for a way to finally be together. We first looked at him coming to Alberta, but he didn't qualify for any type of work visa. We then looked at me moving to Arizona, but same thing, couldn't get a work visa. So we continued our long distance relationship, until we were ready for marriage... we weren't going to rush into things for the sake of being together, so waited until we were sure.

If you wanted to look into work visas a little closer, try asking some questions in the work visa forum. They'll know a lot more about that stuff over there. You could marry, but if you haven't been a couple for very long, you would need a lot of solid evidence to prove to CIC that your marriage isn't one of convenience. I also don't suggest marrying if you aren't absolutely 100% ready to do so. If you are absolutely desperate to be together, he could come to Canada as a visitor and stay with you.. though he wouldn't be able to work, so you would have to be responsible for him financially. The max he could stay is 6 months, but you're able to apply for an extension online, which could grant him another 6 months (if approved). That would make a grand total of 12 months, allowing you to sponsor him as a common-law partner if you weren't yet ready to marry. If you aren't able to support him financially for a year, you may have to tough the long distance thing out until you are totally ready to make a bigger commitment.

 

[Creampop]

I agree with Sweden... If you apply in-land your boyfriend can apply for a work permit after he receives an AIP which is approx. 11 months after you file. or your boyfriend can file out-land and have his PR visa in approx. 12 months. either way you do file he won't be working for close to a year. unless he has an offer from a Canadian employer. from what I understand that is hard. others will have better advise on that matter. maybe he could come on a study permit? other things with in-land out-land... in-land, he won't be able to cross the border freely and if he leaves for any reason his application could be denied. out-land, can cross freely. in-land, no appeal rights, out-land, appeal rights. out-land is much faster and there are ways to atleast be together in Canada he can come visit for 6 months then apply for an extension...

 

[AnaMaria]

You did not mention how long you have been dating. You can certainly get married and sponsor him but you will need good solid evidence of your relationship. You have not spent a lot of time together. If you can, try to spend face-to-face time at length, not online or a few days once in a while, before application (personally I feel it would be a good idea to do it before getting married ). Don't rush to send application.

It seems it is a good idea to apply outland and bring him to Canada permanently once he gets his PR, probably quicker and reasonable economically.

Good luck!

 

[Unknown2015]

Hi all, I have a similar situation too.
I am 27 years old girl and I meet a boy online 8 years ago in Iran, I had a trip to Iran 6 years ago, and spend a mounth with him. nowadays i want to live with him. I live in Vancouver. I am Iranian originally but I am citizen of Canada for more than 10 years.
Is there any way to support him to get visa for Canada before marriage?

 

[RajaJi]

He can apply for a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada. To get a TRV, he will need to show evidence and satisfy IO that he will return to Iran. If approved then he can come to Canada as a visitor. There is not much you can do to support him to obtain a visa to come to Canada before Marriage.

When he is in Canada, both of you can get married and then you will be able to sponsor him as spouse.